Breast supporting garment utilizing slip resistant materials to control position of garment

ABSTRACT

A torso encircling garment that has a front portion  11  attached to a back portion  12 . The front portion has a breast supporting area  16  with non-slip, that is, frictionally adhesive material  15  on the inner surface, or breast supporting area  22  of conventional construction, or supporting area of molded cups that may be padded. The garment may have a front hook and eye closure  24  or back hook and eye closure  33 , or be continuous around the torso. The garment may have straps continuous with the front and back  17 , conventional straps, or be strapless  30 . Non-slip material  15  may be in the straps  10 , the cup area  16  or  31 , in the front torso area  18 , or in the back torso area  12.

BACKGROUND—FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to brassieres and other garments which serve the function of controlling the movement and position of the breasts of the wearer.

BACKGROUND—DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Brassieres and other garments of similar function must stay in their proper position in order to function. In the prior art these garments employ a tight band that encircles the chest or waist, either combined with straps of strapless. These bands may have elastic areas or may be constructed with elastic in the entire band, and this elastic relieves some of the constricting effect of the bands. In a brassiere with straps, the purpose of band is to keep the brassiere from “riding up”, and in the strapless brassiere the purpose of the band is to keep the brassiere from sliding down. If the band is not tight enough in a garment with straps, the breasts can slide down and out of their proper place and be below the cup area entirely. The problem of breasts not staying in place was addressed by Larry L. Krieger in U.S. Pat. No. 3,254,653 (1966), in which he patented raised areas in the cup to grip the breasts. In Krieger these raised areas could cause irritation to the delicate skin of the breasts. In U.S. Pat. No. 2,988,087, also Larry L. Krieger, there are “body-gripping knopslike protuberances projecting above the general plane of the fabric” to hold the brassiere in place, that have the same problem, that is, the potential to cause irritation to the wearer. C. A. Porter in U.S. Pat. No. 2,289,679, E. Cadous in U.S. Pat. No. 2,524,620, and A. M. Rosenfield et al in U.S. Pat. No. 2,628,356 employ suction either as a plurality of suction cups or “depressions . . . formed as closed suction cups” (Cadous) to prevent slippage. Because suction depends on a partial vacuum, that is, a relative difference in air pressure between the suction cup and the surrounding area, normal movement can break the seal around the suction cup, resulting in an equalizing of the air pressure difference and subsequent loss of suction and a shifting of the garment. These suction cups can also cause irritation, and are bulky and unattractive. M. Schottenfels in U.S. Pat. No. 2,079,426 and B. D. Morgan in U.S. Pat. No. 3,276,449 describe brassieres that do not encircle the torso and stay in place on the body through adhesives that stick to the skin. In Schottenfels, the adhesive is “in the character of adhesive material such as surgical or medical tape” which sticks to the skin, and has the disadvantage that it must be replaced with each wearing. The invention of B. D. Morgan employs “pressure sensitive adhesive” and, if the brassiere is to be worn more than once, it must be folded so as to avoid contact between the adhesive layers, which is an inconvenience to the owner. In Henricksen, U.S. Pat. No. 6,332,825, the layer of frictionally adhesive material, having an upper limit of 0.5 mm would be difficult to manufacture and would be lacking in durability. Also another problem in Henricksen is that a thin layer of adhesive material that is less than 0.5 mm can accentuate the texture of the underlying fabric, so rather than providing a smooth surface, this surface is rough and irritating after long use. A different problem in a brassiere with straps is that the garment can slide up in the back, and down in the front, so that even if the breasts are in the cup area, the breasts are lower than the wearer desires, giving the appearance of sagging breasts. In a strapless brassiere, the garment can slide off the breasts and come to rest at the waist.

This tight band causes annoyance or discomfort at best, at worst it can irritate the intercostal muscles and cause pain. The introduction of elastic materials to ease some of the tension around the torso was an improvement, but does not completely solve of problem of discomfort for the wearer.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the invention presented here, the present invention comprises a torso encircling garment with areas of frictionally adhesive material on the inner surface of the garment.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

Accordingly, the objects and advantages of the breast support system presented in this invention are:

-   -   (a) to keep the garment and breasts in place by employing a         gentle encircling of the torso by the fabric of the garment, and         employing areas of adhesive materials (adhesive in the sense of         adhesive friction, that is, resistant to slipping) such as 100         percent silicone rubber, latex rubber, soft plastics, or a         mixture thereof, materials that do not resemble or employ glues         or resins that can wear away and leave sticky deposits on the         skin,     -   (b) to keep the garment in place using areas of frictionally         adhesive material rising above the surface of the fabric from         0.001 mm to 0.5 mm in the case of soft plastics or a mixture of         soft plastics and silicone rubber or latex rubber or both, or         the frictionally adhesive material rising above the surface of         the fabric from greater than 0.5 mm to 2 mm in the case of         silicone rubber, latex rubber, soft plastics, or a mixture         thereof,     -   (c) to avoid discomfort by positioning the areas of frictionally         adhesive material so that the areas do not tightly encircle the         torso, and such that these areas do not employ methods to create         suction or protuberances from the surface of the garment or         methods to create suction, eliminating the problem of loss of         adhesiveness when air pressure equalized through normal movement         of the wearer and its resultant loss of suction,     -   (d) to create stability in the positioning of the garment by         having the areas of frictionally adhesive material in contact         with the skin, that is, the adhesive material is on the inner         surface of the fabric of the garment,     -   (e) to provide for a variety of adaptations of the present         invention to any garment that functions to control the movement         and position of breasts, such as sports, nursing, general         purpose, strapless and padded brassieres, and sleep wear         support, or garments that have this invention built into them,         such as sports wear, leotards, swim suits, evening gowns,         pajamas and night gowns,     -   (f) to provide garments that are easy to take care of,     -   (g) to provide garments that will fit into many price ranges,         and     -   (h) to provide the wearer with a secure feeling of knowing that         her garment will stay in place and that she looks her best.

DRAWING FIGURES

In the drawings, parts that are closely related have the same number.

FIG. 1 shows the outside of a sports brassiere and

FIG. 2 shows the inside of the same garment.

FIG. 3 shows the outside of a general purpose brassiere and

FIG. 4 shows the inside of the same garment.

FIG. 5 shows the outside of a strapless brassiere and

FIG. 6 shows the inside of the same garment.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

-   -   10 sports brassiere     -   11 front portion, outside view     -   12 back portion, inside view     -   13 outer shell of brassiere     -   14 lining of brassiere     -   15 areas of frictionally adhesive material such as 100 percent         silicone or latex rubber or soft plastics or a mixture thereof     -   16 breast supporting area     -   17 straps continuous with the front and back portions     -   18 front portion, inside view     -   19 back portion, outside view     -   20 general purpose brassiere     -   21 conventional straps     -   22 breast supporting area of general purpose brassiere     -   23 knitted or woven fabric     -   24 back hook and eye closure     -   25 under wire

-   30 strapless brassiere     -   31 molded cups     -   32 stays     -   33 front hook and eye closure

DESCRIPTION—FIGS. 1 and 2—SPORTS BRASSIERE EMBODIMENT

The sports brassiere embodiment 10 viewed right side out of this invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 2, the garment is viewed inside out. This brassiere 10 has a front portion 11 attached to a back portion 12. This garment is comprises two layers of fabric, the outer layer 13 and the inner layer 14, and this double layer gives extra support to the breasts. The preferred materials for these layers of fabric are knitted fabrics comprising absorbing or wicking yarns and may be part elastic yarn. The areas of frictionally adhesive material 15 are placed on the inner surface of the garment on the back 12, straps 17 and cup area 16. These areas together serve the function of keeping the garment in place, but not all of them are necessary to perform the function and any can be omitted. This garment has no front or back opening and can be put on by pulling on over the head or stepping into it.

FIGS. 3 and 4 Additional Embodiment

The general purpose brassiere embodiment 20 of this invention is illustrated in FIG. 3, right side out, and FIG. 4 inside out. This brassiere 20 has a front portion 11 attached to a back portion 12 and conventional brassiere straps 21. The cup area 22 is a single or multiple thickness of woven or knitted fabric, with or without elastic yarn as part of the knitted or woven yarn, with the type of fabric chosen for the desired amount of support. The fabric encircling the torso is a single or multiple layer of knitted or woven fabric and may be partially elastic yarn, allowing for freedom and comfort in breathing. The hatched areas 15 are the areas comprising a thin layer of frictionally adhesive material, here to hold the brassiere in place, while the under wire 25 serves the function of keeping the breasts from sliding down to a position below the cup area 22. This brassiere has a back hook and eye closure 24. This embodiment of the invention is useful for the creation of a shapely appearance.

FIGS. 4 and 5 Additional Embodiment

The strapless brassiere embodiment 30 is illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 and has a front portion 11 attached to a back portion 12. The cups 31 are of the molded type and also have a thin layer of frictionally adhesive material 15 to help to position the breasts. The areas of frictionally adhesive material 15 around the torso 12 and 18 serves the function of keeping the brassiere from sliding down. This brassiere can be, as with other embodiments, constructed of single or multiple layers of a variety of fabrics, and again the preferred fabric for the portion encircling the torso will contain elastic yarn as part of the yarn to provide for comfort in breathing and movement of the wearer. This embodiment of the invention has a front hook and eye closure.

These illustrations are not intended to exclude other placement of adhesive material, other combinations of fabrics, other constructions or other types of garments, but is intended to illustrate that there is a range of possible features and garments.

ADVANTAGES, CONCLUSIONS AND SCOPE

The present invention is a method to provide comfort and control in a breast supporting garment that encircles the torso and has areas of frictionally adhesive material on the inner surface of the garment, that is, the surface of fabric that touches the wearer's skin. This system performs its control function while permitting freedom for breathing and movement. By eliminating the need for a tight band encircling the torso, this invention departs from the conventional conception and previous art of garments that encircle the torso and support breasts with the use of the tight encircling band. The increased thickness of the adhesive material allows for more durability and comfort of the garment, and the addition of soft plastics as an adhesive material allow for options in manufacturing. Because of the increased comfort, wearers will find that the present invention can be worn in any circumstance, including, but not exclusive to sports, dancing and sleeping. 

1. A breast supporting garment including a torso portion, with a breast supporting front portion and a back portion: said garment comprising stretch or non-stretch fabric and having areas of non-slipping material on surface of said fabric; said areas being of sufficient size and location to counter the tendency of said garment to slide out of place on the wearer's body; (a) said areas of non-slipping material comprising soft plastics or a mixture of said soft plastics and silicone or latex rubber or both; (b) said areas of non-slipping material having a thickness in the range of 0.001 mm to 0.5 mm; (c) said areas of non-slipping material being permanently affixed to said garment; (d) said garment being of construction including said stretch or non-stretch materials so as to be under sufficient tension on the said wearer's body to maintain contact between said areas of non-slipping material with said wearer's skin; (e) said areas of non-slipping material being on an inner surface of said garment and being the surface of said garment in contact with said wearer's skin; (f) said areas of non-slipping material being located on said garment inner surface in at least any one of the following garment locations or any combination thereof including on straps, cup areas or the torso encircling portion.
 2. A breast supporting garment including a torso portion, a breast supporting front portion and a back portion: said garment comprising stretch or non-stretch fabric and having areas of non-slipping material on a surface of said fabric; said areas being of sufficient size and location to counter the tendency of said garment to slide out of place on the wearer's body; (a) said areas of non-slipping material comprising silicone, latex rubber or soft plastics, or a mixture thereof; (b) said areas of non-slipping material having a thickness in the range of greater than 0.5 mm to 2 mm; (c) said areas of non-slipping material being permanently affixed to said garment; (d) said garment being of construction including said stretch or non-stretch materials so as to be under sufficient tension on the said wearer's body to maintain contact between said areas of non-slipping material with said wearer's skin; (e) said areas of non-slipping material being on the inner surface of said garment and being the surface of said garment in contact with said wearer's skin; (f) said areas of non-slipping material being located on said garment inner surface in at least any one of the following garment locations or any combination thereof including on straps, cup areas or the torso encircling portion. 